Livestock Owners Must Register By 2011 Or Lose Brands
By Sonia Isotov
Hawaii livestock brand owners have until December 31, 2010 to re-register their brands with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) or risk losing their brands.
Hawaii law requires owners of livestock in the state to register brands in Hawaii. So far, only about 425 brand owners have either completed registration or have submitted applications to register their brands.
“Brand owners may re-register at anytime,” said Dr. Jason Moniz, veterinarian and manager of HDOA’s Livestock Disease Control Branch. “However, if they do not re-register by December 31st, they may potentially lose the right to their brand, should someone else apply for it.”
Typically, cattle are branded prior to one year of age so owners have a permanent and unique identification on their animals that traces them back to their ownership. In Hawai`i, there are about 1,100 cattle operations ranging from herds of about 16,000 cows to those with just a few head.
HDOA’s Livestock Disease Control Branch reviews brand applications and approves brands after determining that the brand is not the same or similar to others that are registered. Branding continues to be the most practical and approved means by which cattle ownership is determined, particularly in the Western U.S. where most states require cattle moving interstate to be brand inspected.
To view registered brands, including Maui County brands, use the Hawaii Brand Book.
Brand owners should visit the HDOA to obtain a brand registration form or for more information contact HDOA’s Livestock Disease Control Branch at (808) 483-7106 (Oahu) or e-mail: [email protected].
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